Chapter 175: The Magic Match and the Little Girl |
A silver whirlwind surged. The surrounding scene shifted and flowed, countless colorful blocks finally settling into a clear image.
Aurora looked around and found herself and her teacher in a small town she didn't recognize. Judging by the architecture, it had to be a country on the Western Continent.
Snowflakes drifted down from the sky, layering the ground in white. The trees lining the street wore coats of frost. The cold wind lashed the girl's face. Occasionally, tightly wrapped pedestrians passed by in a hurry.
Aurora exhaled a puff of white mist.
"Now, try to gain the power of a wish in this town."
With a wave of his hand, Rhine produced the magic lamp he had previously retrieved from the treasure house.
He handed it to Aurora.
"I don’t need this anymore, Aurora. It’s yours now."
Aurora nodded. For a long time, her own magic had not been strong enough; she’d had to rely on the magic lamp.
Seconds later, she felt it—a faint but blazing energy rising through the cold winter sky.
"It’s... this direction!"
Aurora opened her eyes and followed the trail toward two luxurious villas.
As she approached, she realized the source of the wish wasn’t inside either villa, but in the narrow alley between them. There, a shivering girl lay hidden.
She was small, dressed in rags, barefoot. Her feet were purple with cold. She curled up like a wounded hedgehog, trying to shield herself from the biting wind.
Snow fell relentlessly, dusting her beautiful hair, making her look even more pitiful.
When she noticed Aurora, her eyes lit up.
"Sister, would you like a box of matches?"
With trembling hands, she pulled out a wad of paper, unwrapped it, and offered a small matchbox.
"Uh, I don’t need it..." Aurora said, then instantly regretted it.
The girl lowered her head, disappointed.
"Why are you here? Do you have a home?" Aurora asked gently.
"I do... but I’m afraid to go home. I didn’t sell a single box of matches today. Daddy will beat me if I return empty-handed."
Aurora’s heart ached.
"But it snowed today. There are barely any people outside. Surely your father will understand?"
The girl shook her head, her face etched with fear.
"No... he said he needed money to drink. If I return with nothing, he’ll beat me to death."
Rhine, now transformed into a snow-white bird, hovered above to observe.
The simplest solution would be to give the girl money. But there was no guarantee it wouldn’t end up in her father’s hands.
"Sell me a box of matches," Aurora said.
She had planned to buy them all, but a better idea had come to her.
"Thank you... Thank you, sister."
The girl chose the best-looking box, brushed it clean, and handed it over.
Aurora took the box and walked away.
"I sold one... but still can’t go home," the girl thought, shivering.
Aurora entered a nearby alley and summoned the magic lamp.
A swirl of mist emerged, forming a towering genie.
"My master, what do you wish?"
Aurora held up the box.
"I want to enchant these matches with magic."
Back in the alley, the girl realized she couldn’t stay put. The snow was getting heavier.
She stepped out into the cold street—just in time to see the very matchbox she had sold lying abandoned in the snow, its contents scattered.
"She must’ve dropped it... She didn’t need it anyway."
The girl carefully gathered each match and tucked them back into the box.
The matches glimmered faintly, like starlight.
"Did a star fall from the sky...?"
She carried the box, wandering the empty streets where no one needed matches.
Eventually, she returned to her spot between the villas. The smell of roast duck drifted from a nearby home. Inside, people were laughing.
Frozen and numb, she reached into her pocket.
"It’s so cold... maybe one match. Just one."
She struck the match.
The flame flared, and within it, she imagined a warm fireplace.
Suddenly, the fireplace wasn’t just imagined—it was real.
A warm stove blazed before her, glowing with soft orange light.
"Where did this come from...? I only wished for warmth."
Aurora and Rhine watched as birds. Aurora whispered, "She should soon discover each match grants a one-time wish."
"So you’re testing how she uses this power?" Rhine asked.
"Yes. I want to see her make her own choices... just like you once let me."
Suddenly, a swallow flew past, dropping a sparkling sapphire into the girl’s hands.
"A fireplace... now a gem...?"
She clutched it with excitement.
"Grandma said this must be worth a fortune! Dad won’t hit me now!"
She ran home.
Aurora blinked. "Teacher, did you summon that swallow?"
"No," Rhine replied.
"Then how...?"
"Try divining it yourself," Rhine suggested.
The girl had no idea the sapphire was worth more than all her match sales combined.
Aurora performed a quick divination and followed the girl home.
At the door, she heard shouting.
"Where did you get this gem?!"
"A swallow gave it to me!"
"Liar! You stole it, didn’t you?!"
Furniture crashed.
The girl sobbed and insisted she was telling the truth.
Eventually, the father accepted her story, eager to pawn the gem.
"This looks just like the sapphire in the statue downtown... might be worth a lot."
He imagined bottles of wine and chips for gambling.
That night, he pawned the gem—cheated by a greedy merchant.
The next day, he lost the money gambling and drank away the rest.
By evening, he kicked the girl out again.
She pleaded to stay, but the broken door slammed shut.
Aurora, watching from a rooftop, whispered, "What a pity. That gem didn’t change anything."
She was glad she hadn’t simply handed over money.
As the sun vanished and the icy wind returned, the little girl hadn’t sold a single
e match.
She retreated to the same alley, crouching between the villas.
She smelled roast duck again and, trembling, pulled out another glowing match.
(End of Chapter)